Variable-speed drive



Feb. 24, 1931. O VAUGHN I 1,793,571

VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE Filed Dec. 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l awoemto'c 7 ZFran/f O. Vaughn 85 M Qbtmw 14, 1929 2 SheetsSheet 2 E'vwwtoz Frank O.Vauqhn, his Emmy 1931- F. o. VAUGHN VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE Filed Dec.

Patented Feb. 24,1931

" ree FRANK-0. VAUGHN, or POUGEKEEBSZE NEW YORK VARIABLE-se en DRIVEApplication filed fiecem'eer l i," 1923. serial; No 413,363.

This invention relates to a variable speed drive and in which the powertransmitting means comprises two semi-spherical friction cones inrunning contact with each other and adaptedto be so adjusted as tovarythe speed transmitted and also capable of being reversed. j x z Theobject of the invention is to provide a variable speed drive capable oftransmitting all speeds within its rangefrom low to high and alsoreverse. v '1 Another object ofthe invention is to con.- struct adeviceoffthis kind that shall be durable, simple, contain few parts and;be adaptable to many uses where a light variable speed drive is desired.j V H A further object is toprovide means whereby the wearing parts maybe readily'renewed without having to dissembletheentire machine. V fStill another object is to provide means whereby the ratio of speed maybe changed during the operation of the device, and any desired ratiolocked from accidentalchange, and also a rever se direction of rotationobtained in the same manner.

Also a novelilmeans is provided not only for the adjustment of thefrictional contact between the cones, but for an automatic adjustmentwhereby. the amount of contact or pressure is increased as the power isincreased so that any slip 1S eliminated.

With these and other objects in-view,' my

I vention.

In the drawings v I F'gure l is a top plan View of a frictional variablespeed'drive in which my design is.

shown. .c 7

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same,-

' with the cones in one of their extreme posi-c tions. 7

Figure 3 is apartial sectional top plan View,

showing the method of speed adjustment and T the reversing device. I

Figure 4 is a side elevation, showing th cones in a neutral position,and showing some or the parts in section to illustrate the autoe 'matictension device.

Referring to the draw1ngs:

The evice is here shown as mounted in a rectangular frame, but thisframe may be of any desired shape and size depending upon the use towhich the drive is to'be put and the HlGtliltlIl of the same. I

As herewith shown, said frame comprises top 11, bottom 12 and sides 10;the top being provided with the ball or roller bearings 13 mounted inthe bearing blocks 1d attached to said top 11 by the screws 15 or othersuitable means; The bottom 12' is also provided with ball or rollerbearings 16 attached thereto in alined relation to thebearings in thetop 11-;v and in the upper bearings 13 are rotatably mounted the shaiits17, upon the lower ends of which are secured the bevel-gear pinions 18.,

Two-C-shaped swinging brackets l9-are provided, and secured to andprojecting from their lower ends "are the studsQO'Whi ch are mounted inthe lower bearings 16'; while the upper arms of said brackets19are"formed with'hores through which the shafts 1'7 pass so that saidbracltetsmay be swung upon said shafts and the studs 20.: u 1

At right angles to each stud20"and the shaft 17 in each-of said brackets1 9-is provideda ball orlrollerfb'earing 21 within which is v limitedsliding movement within said bearing 21 and a free rotating movementtherein; the end of said shaft 22 projecting from the bearing land incontact with an adjusting screw 23'which is threaded in a yoke" 24atmounted ashaft 22;" said shaft 22 having a tached to the bearingf21 bytheiscrews 25,

' or a stiff spring may be employedto normally press inward on saidshaft 22; V v f i ()n the innerend of saidshafts 22ers secured thesemi-circular contact members 47 which are faced withtheremovablecontact I surfacernaterial 26 of leather or othersuitablematerial and which is secured thereon in any suitable manner such as bypin s, screws, etc. a Two methods are shown for automatically retainingthe friction cones in driving conintegral therewith and formed with abore within which is secured the end of the shaft 22 by the pin 29; theouter end offs-aid mem-' ber 28 being formed with one or more beveledrollers 30 adapted to engage with and ride 'ontheiinclined end 31 formedon the hub 32 of the bevel gear 33which is slideably mount ed onthe'shaft 22 in mesh with the pinion 18, and insuch a manner that as thecone 47 is rotated in either direction by the other cone in contacttherewith, the two beveled surfaces of the end 31' and roller30 willcoact as a -wedgeto force the cone l7 into close contact with the othercone; this automatic adjust- :ment being in'addition to the adjustmentof 1 theshaft 22' by the screw 23 bearing against its outer end. i

- In'the method shown in the right hand cone in Figurei, a member '34 issecured to,

oris apart of the cone l7 and this member is formed with a threadedbore35, while the hiib36 of the bevel gear 33 is formed with externalthreads coacting with those in the member 34 to forcethe cone outward asthe same is rotated, but in-the use ofthis method when the device isreversed the entire adj ustment will have to be made by the left handcone'as the right hand cone will only expand in onedirection. In bothmethods the bevel gear 33 is mounted on a spline 36 in the shaft 22; I

For operating the swinging brackets 19 to iregulate and adjust thevariable contact of the cones-thereis provided a pair of gear segments40se'curedto hubs on the brackets 19 of theshafts 17 below-the top 11,and mounted in guides 41 secured to said'top are pair of rack-arms 42and et3 which are mounted back to back with theirteeth in en- 'gagementwith the teeth of said gear segments mounted to thesame by the guides 44and I held in position by some suitable means such as a pin 45 in: theholes 46; this-rackbeing' designed to operate one of the conestobringthe same past the center-ofthe other cone 3 to impar't reverse movementto the drive.

It is'to beunderstoodthat the shafts 17 may besupplied with any meansfor trans- I adapted to mitt-ing the power to and from the device suchas pulleys and belts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a variable speed drive of the class describedcomprising incombination with a main frame two brackets mounted therein, vertical andhorizontal shafts rotatably mounted in said brackets, pinion gearssecured on said vertical shafts, bevel gears mounted on said horizontalshafts'in mesh therewith, a pair of frictional members secured on saidhorizontal shafts in contact with each other, means carried thereby andby; said bevel gears for adjusting the frictional contact of saidfrictional members during their operation in an automatic manner, meansfor adjusting the line of contact of said members to vary the ratio ofspeed between the same, and means for operating said adjusting means torelocate one of said frictional members to reverse its direction ofrotati on V r I I 2. In a variable speed drive of theclass Imentsadapted to swingsaid frictional members, a pair of operating racks inengagement with said ge'a-rsegments for moving the same,

and an adjusting means between said racks to vary the'position of saidgear segments with each other, and means for automatically exertingrpressurel upon said frictional members to reta with each other. V c 7 IIn testimony whereof I aflix mv signature,

ERANK .o. VAUGHN,

in them in frictional contact

